Our 2011 haul of Marilyns was acquired in July en route to and while in the Shetlands. After a night in Blairgowrie we headed for Ballater and in separate walks (it would have been one hell of a route otherwise) picked up Hill of Persie and Meall Alvie. Ben Rinnes, Little Conval and Meikle Conval from Glack Harnes occupied the next day. Even though we were there reasonably early we were lucky to find a parking spot as it seemed that the entire population of Charlestown of Aberlour were on the hill prior to their annual pig roast. We declined an invitation to join them as we had Marilyns to do.
Lochnagar and White Mounth were repeat Munros but we redeemed ourselves by ascending Ballater's Marilyn, Craigendarroch, after dinner. So far we had been blessed by decent weather but for Millstone Hill and Bennachie we received a soaking. It was wet from the time we left the visitor centre until we returned; we skirted around Mither Tap rather than going over the top. The Coyles of Muick filled another morning, with the afternoon being taken up by Creag Ghiubhais. We took the track around the south of the hill and followed the forest edge towards the northwest ridge. The initial part was a bit of a struggle, through thick vegetation, but it eased as we entered the higher woodland.
Prior to our afternoon flight to Shetland we sauntered up Brimmond Hill. It was our second visit to the islands, the first having been in 2009 when we failed to get to Foula due to flight problems. This time we were not disappointed and reckon that our walk around the island was the best day of the holiday. On Da Noup we met Iain Brown, who had been on the flight but we had not spoken. From the col, Iain went direct for Da Sneug while we turned east and took the ridge via Hamnafield and Tounafield to the summit. By this time Iain was long gone.
Frances Wilson relaxing in Foula airport lounge (photo: Peter Wilson)
On the return flight the pilot took us at minimum Marilyn elevation via the 'dark side' of the island - the sight of the 376 m high cliffs of Da Kame was simply jaw-dropping. On other days we revisited Ronas Hill, mopped up the near-Marilyns of Cunnigill Hill and Faan Hill, flew out to Papa Stour, wandered around Whalsay, walked the Esha Ness coast, and stayed for a couple of nights at Lunna House - the original HQ for the Shetland Bus operation in world war two. Then it was back to Aberdeen and on to Ballater via Cairn-mon-earn and Stranraer via King's Seat.
Cliffs of Da Kame on Foula (photo: Peter Wilson)
Inroads into the Irish Marilyns continue at a snail's pace. Another two were duly ticked - Carrigatuke and Camlough Mountain - on a Saturday in May that is probably best forgotten. We heard that the motor bike racing that had forced us from our home for the weekend had been abandoned because of a combination of excessive rainfall, an oil spill and a bomb alert. We only had the rain.
In early August the Faeroes played Northern Ireland in Belfast. Their team's plane flew back to Vágar with 15 NI residents on board for three nights in the islands. We had hoped to climb the high point, Slaettaratindur, but were thwarted by strong winds and sprained lumbar joints. Nevertheless, we did manage a trip to Nólsoy and climbed Eggjarklettur (372m), our first Faeroese Marilyn. We decided that such hills should be known as Sandys or Toksvigs (alternative names on a postcard please). It was a rather subdued Faeroes team awaiting us at Belfast as they had been beaten 4-1.
